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Published by EUA Marketing, 2016-06-06 11:46:45

Menasha High School

Case Study

Keywords: EUA,Eppstein Uhen Architects,architecture,Learning,Environment,K-12,High School,Modern learning,case study

CASE STUDY
MENASHA HIGH SCHOOL

The Menasha High School project disproves the theory that existing building (Pictured above) The cafeteria was opened and
renovations cannot achieve the same modern, flexible and dynamic impact as expanded to form a student common areas
new construction. The iconic 1930s high school served as a source of pride for the accessible to the students as a gathering space and
Menasha Joint School District (MJSD), however, the school’s narrow, inefficient and hub throughout the day.
difficult to supervise corridors coupled with small classrooms and dark interiors no
longer supported their teaching style. Numbers of Value

MJSD sought to implement personalized, collaborative learning practices and High School (9-12)
knew changes to the physical environment were necessary. Eppstein Uhen April 2, 2013 Referendum
Architects (EUA) helped guide the district through a comprehensive process ($29.9 million)
to align the facilities with the District’s vision for modern education. The Capacity: 1,100 students
historic character of the building was preserved, while the learning spaces Size of Site: 12 Acres
were transformed. Community engagement provided input to foster industry New Construction: 40,000 sq ft
partnerships and generated support for the work that needed to be done. Renovations: 231,000 sq ft
Project Completed: August 2015
The challenges were many, but the end result accomplished the same goals as Space per Student: 246 sf/student
would be expected of a completely new facility. Percent of building renovated: 80%

PROJECT GOALS INCLUDED:

»» Fostering student engagement
»» Serving the school’s diverse socioeconomic population
»» Improving circulation and accessibility
»» Creating collaborative modern learning spaces
»» Providing safe spaces with access to technology
»» Celebrating and preserving the school’s historic architecture

The Process Exisiting historic façade
Planning for the renovations involved a unique and
collaborative process beginning with community-based
groups establishing goals and drivers for the project to
develop a vision for 21st century educational facility. With
that information, the District and design team created
specific goals for the entire transformation and each
discipline involved.

Working with the established drivers, a visionary task force
of teachers and administrators was formed to work with
EUA during the conceptual planning phase. The team
educated the visionary task force on current education design
trends and the task force educated the architects on current
curriculum and pedagogy the district was attempting to
implement.

To best support teaching goals and initiatives, work sessions New additions
were conducted with the visionary team to explore spatial
relationships and to evaluate different proposed space New additions were designed to complement the building’s façade without
adjacencies within the building. The renovated facility mimicking the existing building vocabulary. Additions were strategically
represents a true collaboration between architects, staff, located and positioned to maximize natural light in the learning environments.
administration and the surrounding community.

The media center
provides spaces for
collaboration and quiet
rooms for focus work.
The combination of
permanent and
moveable stacks and
flexible furniture allows
for future reconfiguration.
The media center is not
just a place to gather
information, but a place
where information is
processed, analyzed and
used.

Exterior walls that could have been torn down for new additions were instead restored to become features in new student collaboration areas. Two-story light courts with
skylights were created to bring natural light into the areas of the building that did not have access to exterior windows.

reorganized around department collaboration areas allowing
for informal work areas to occur outside the principal learning
environments.

Main corridor before Modern Learning
A key aspect of this renovation and addition included the
Historic Transformation creation of collaborative environments that incorporate a variety
The renovation of a 1930’s masonry structure for of spaces to support multiple modalities. With the different ways
flexibility and transparency created a number of both students learn, they have to be engaged through active learning
philosophical and technical challenges throughout environments that are flexible and adaptable.
the design process. The project presents the unique
element of preserving the character and history of Additions for new flexible science labs and band/orchestra
an iconic community structure, while completely areas opened up space inside the building to allow for wider
transforming the education process delivered to circulation paths and department-based collaboration areas
students. The aesthetics of the new additions were to best meet needs of the students. The library and cafeteria
designed to emphasize the iconic aspects of the were expanded and transformed into student common spaces,
facility that the community and students identify with becoming centers for student life within the facility. The existing
Menasha High School. structure was strategically altered to allow for the installation
of two-story light wells and large glass window walls. Where
The design modified load-bearing corridor walls, additions obscured the historic façade, the original exterior was
allowing for wider circulation and collaboration used to create feature walls in new, light-filled interior courts.
spaces to meet modern learning initiatives. This The exterior was also restored to celebrate the original beauty of
also allowed natural light to penetrate to the center the school.
of all three stories of the school. The school was
The result is a facility that sets the standard for future learning
without losing its connection to the past. The building is once
again a source of pride for the community and has positioned
the district, teachers, students and community for success.

Science addition “ I think that the entire
team assembled for
The new science addition was designed with mobile casework around flexible lab spaces to operate in multiple this project was truly
configurations. Lab spaces are separated from lecture areas with movable walls allowing for a variety of potential
relationships between labs, classrooms and adjacent student collaboration spaces. amazing. EUA worked
from start to finish to
Technology
meet the vision our
As the District was focusing on creating a learning environment to serve students for school district was
many years into the future, technology had to be seamless and dispersed effortlessly looking for.The team
throughout the facility. took the time to listen
and respond to our
vision committees
thoughts and ideas
then translated those
ideas into a functional
21st Century Learning
Environment while also
keeping the regal feel of
the 1938 building.”

David Elliott Menasha Joint School District

milwaukee : madison : des moines www.eua.com


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